REAL MADRID MATCH RATINGS 6 5 6 7 7 6 7 7 5 7
Was alert early on to snuff out a chance for Trent Alexander-Arnold and denied him again from a low shot. He could do little about Mane’s goal. Caught out of position on a few occasions, easily beaten by Mane numerous times. Was a boost for Madrid when he went off injured. Was it snide or just an accident? Ramos certainly looked like he wanted to hurt Salah but whatever his intention it was a big moment. Was solid rest of the game. Defensively assured even amid the mayhem. The central defender made some decent interceptions at vital times for Madrid when under pressure.
Dragged an early shot wide before a sloppy pass gave Liverpool an attack. Will have been relieved to have seen Salah go off. Great delivery for Bale. Failed to have an impact in the opening 45 minutes, looked off the pace and gave the ball away a few times but improved after the break. Like Modric, he was important for Real when they needed the ball as he kept his cool and was not rushed by Liverpool’s pressing game. One of Real’s better performers in the first half for sure. The former Tottenham man was good in possession when his team needed to slow the game down. Had a couple of shots in the first half but failed to hit the target. Still a threat when Real got into the final third and was clever to get the goal.
THEY were 1,778 miles away from Kiev but, boy, in their minds’ eyes the Anfield faithful could reach out and touch their superhuman heroes.
With all their hearts they were embracing every Liverpool player for giving them the chance of living the dream until substitute Gareth Bale scored a double – the second courtesy of a Loris Karius mishandle which left him as red-faced as his team-mates’ shirts.
But there should be no blame culture here. There on the big screens, at their beloved home where no one ever walks alone, the mesmerised masses had experienced their boys coming face-to-face with the legends of Real Madrid and giving their energy-sapping all.
And it was not just on Merseyside that homage was paid. Around 400 million TV viewers across the world were witnesses to the shedding of their blood, sweat and tears.
That blunder from keeper Karius broke the deadlock – and Liverpool hearts at Anfield and in Kiev and around every Red part of the world.
But spirits had been lifted high into the night sky as Sadio Mane equalised to bring the house down – literally with beer cascading like a free-flowing fountain from every wildly celebrating stand.
The home-alone hordes would have loved to have been there with their Liverpool brothers at the packed Olimpiyskiy Stadium.
But circumstances beyond their control made travel to the Ukraine largely impossible.
Hotels charging £2,000 a night, charter planes heartbreakingly cancelled at the last minute to shatter many a dream.
And two-day overland journeys to take their £150, £200 seats in the formerly named Red Stadium where music icons George Michael and Madonna have performed to sell-out crowds.
This famous, never-to-be-forgotten night in Kiev was the time for the legends of football to take centre stage, cheered on by the believers at home and abroad. Here in and around Anfield the atmosphere took your breath away.
Outside, supporters in Kiev 2018 T-shirts had arrived at their football mecca singing their hearts out, belting out tributes to heroes of the past.
Inside, 12 giant screens brought the fans all the action from distant Kiev with the build-up to the big game bringing butterflies to the tummies of everyone watching.
From parties of beer-supping lads with their “Allez, Allez, Allez” serenades to wide-eyed youngsters on probably their first visit to their new second home. Still not quite believing where they were.
Thirty thousand had taken their seats inside Anfield, all eyes glued on the screens in front of them, with huge cheers every time a Liverpool player or fan was pictured.
Shots of Mo Salah brought the house down. As did the appearance of Jurgen Klopp flashing those trademark gleaming row of pearly whites.
No surprise, either, that Cristiano Ronaldo was roundly booed when his mugshot was flashed around this famous stadium. And it was Salah, the Egyptian King, who was the first to cause